VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 25, 2011) - The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture) was meeting today with staff and stakeholders in Victoria to explain how the Government of Canada is enhancing programs and benefits for Veterans and improving the service they receive from Veterans Affairs Canada.

"The Government of Canada has taken important steps in recent months to ensure that Veterans and their families receive all the care and support they deserve," said Minister Blackburn. "We are listening to Veterans' concerns. We are changing the culture of the Department, and we are modernizing the way the Department operates to serve Veterans and their families better.

"Progress is clearly being made in the Department of Veterans Affairs—specifically as it relates to reducing turnaround times and red tape," said Minister Blackburn.

Minister Blackburn's stop in Victoria is part of his cross-country tour to share with Canadians the recent changes occurring within the Department.

Recent improvements to service include the following:

The standard turnaround time for decisions on rehabilitation eligibility is now two weeks, an improvement from four weeks;

Veterans now have less paperwork to complete when applying for the Veterans Independence Program (VIP), which currently helps 107,000 Veterans remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible;

Twenty (20) more case managers have been put in place in areas of high demand across the country to deliver one-on-one service and direct access for Veterans.

After having announced several new measures supporting Veterans this fall under the New Veterans Charter, the Government of Canada is now addressing the quality of services that are offered to them. It will also ensure that more Veterans are hired at the Department in order to serve Veterans better.

Yesterday, in Vancouver, Minister Blackburn began his tour by visiting the district and regional offices of Veterans Affairs Canada and meeting with staff to discuss recent improvements within the Department and answer questions. Minister Blackburn concluded his time in Vancouver by visiting the Veterans Memorial Manor, where he also toured the Homeless Veterans Storefront.

In the evening, Minister Blackburn's flight to Nanaimo was unfortunately cancelled. Instead, he joined Member of Parliament James Lunney (Nanaimo-Alberni) via teleconference to speak with Veterans at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #256 in Nanaimo.

Minister Blackburn began his visit to Victoria today by touring the district office of Veterans Affairs Canada and meeting with staff to discuss recent improvements within the Department and answer questions. He then visited Cockrell House, where once-homeless Veterans are being helped off the city's streets. Minister Blackburn also travelled to CFB Esquimalt, where he met over lunch with senior officers at the base and Dave Sinclair, president of the BC/Yukon Command of the Royal Canadian Legion.

"I'm pleased to be meeting with Veterans and stakeholders across the country to explain the substantial progress which is being made within the Department. It is for me an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to providing the best possible service, especially to those Veterans struggling with the most difficult situations. We owe it to them," said Minister Blackburn.

As part of his tour, Minister Blackburn is stopping in several cities across Canada to visit with Veterans' organizations, Canadian Forces personnel, operational stress injury clinics and departmental regional and district offices.

For more information on the ways Veterans Affairs Canada is changing or to see online photo galleries from Minister Blackburn's various stops across Canada, visit www.veterans.gc.ca.